Ecuador - Quito - 2007

Believe it or not, the last trip I took was to Ecuador. That's not the unbelievable part. The part that most people seem to drop their jaw in is when I tell them that I went to Ecuador with the specific idea of hanging out with my parents. The purpose of this trip (because I went alone) was to revisit some of the old places my parents lived in, relive the stories of how they began as a couple and see things through their eyes.

Normally, when I go on trips I have an itinerary that I've made myself and basically have all my days filled with events that I will be doing. This time around the trip was very different because I let mom and dad take the drivers seat while I was just a passenger in their trip down memory lane. The trip allowed me to see that I like to be in control all the time. Not knowing what I was going to do each day was really difficult for me as I felt out of control and with no clear vision of what was ahead.

I didn't mind that feeling so much because I knew mom and dad would be supplying the days activities, but it sure reminded me that I've come a long way from traveling with them, and traveling on my own now.

A typical day in Ecuador starts early in the morning. The air is very cold and it is almost mandatory that you have black coffee, with fresh bread, and fresh juice. Ecuadoreans are not like U.S. people. There are no Jamba Juice places, there are no Starbucks, and there aren't all that many breakfast places. Instead most if not all people wake up early in the morning to go and get fresh bread, fresh fruits and then make their breakfast.

Life in Ecuador goes at a much slower pace as nobody is in a hurry to get somewhere. This is why things like Jamba Juice or Starbucks wouldn't really make it over there. Drinking coffee and juices are things that are done at home. Almost every night that I spent there I was offered some hot water to either drink coffee, or chamomile teas, or other herbal teas. This seems to be a routine for all families there as this time is used to catch up on the days events.

By the afternoon the sun is out and although the air is frigid it gets warm. As soon as the sun hides for a second it gets cold all over again. This is due to the fact that Quito is in a very high altitude and the Andean winds make their presence felt.

Night time you need a mandatory light jacket because it definitely gets cold all over again. This routine is repeated all year long even though they go through different seasons as well. Remember that Ecuador lies smack in the middle of the world.

The following are some pictures of Quito

Here you see a really old car that happened to have my name on it.


This Tonka Turbo Diesel truck is over 26 years old. Is it made of metal and not the flimsy plastic they make the trucks of now a days.


My dad found this old toy that I used to play with in mint condition. Can you believe that after 26 years this toy still works?


This area is known as Recoleta. This is where I grew up living with my Grandmother on my dad's side.


Behind me you see the place where I lived as a child. It is no longer a place for people to live in.


This is a reverse view of Recoleta.


This place was a pool and bathing place I was taken to as a kid. It's known as Cena.


You can clearly see that this place is old and hasn't been used in quite a long time.


The rustic look of this place makes for great photography.


Back at Grandma's place I help her make some soup by peeling potatoes. There are no fancy potato peelers in Ecuador so you have to use a real knife.


As Grandma and I are working on the soup, I notice that our hands look similar. I love the fact that both Grandma and I have the same hands. I'm proud to have this feature because my Grandmother still lives, works, cooks and has always been a fighter. I'm proud.

Inga Pirca and Al Cajas are next. Stay Tuned.